Photo Gallery: Prague Landmarks

Charles Bridge and the Church of St. Francis

Photograph by René Jakl/Spectrum Pictures

Prague boasts hundreds of architectural landmarks, including two visible in this evening shot: the 14th-century, statue-decorated Charles Bridge (Karluv Most)—from which the photo was taken—and the domed Church of St. Francis.

Prazsk Hrad

Photograph by René Jakl/Spectrum Pictures

A setting sun bathes Prague and its storied Prazsk Hrad (Prague Castle), which rises on the left. Spared destruction in World War II, much of Prague’s historical center was declared a World Heritage site in 1992.

Old Town Square

Photograph by Giovanni Simeone/SIME

A city gem, Prague’s colorful Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti) dates to the 12th century. A busy marketplace in medieval times, the square became the city’s social center.

Theological Library

Photograph by Mark Edward Smith/TIPS Images

Heavenly firmament: A baroque ceiling of religious frescoes and elaborate stucco work celebrates the world of religion in the Theological Library at Prague’s Strahov Monastery.

Jo’s Bar and Garaz

Photograph by Andrea Pistolesi/TIPS Images

A popular watering hole near the Charles Bridge, Jo’s Bar and Garaz is a multi-level venue tucked into two old buildings.

Golden Lane

Photograph by Mark Edward Smith/TIPS Images

Lilliputian lodging, this little blue house lines Golden Lane, a cobblestone street in the Prague Castle complex that was fashioned as a residential area for the Emperor’s marksmen.

Giant Metronome

Photograph by René Jakl/Spectrum Pictures

Marker of a new era in Prague: A giant metronome, placed at a city overlook in 1991, replaced a statue of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin that was demolished in the 1960s. The monument symbolizes Czechoslovakia’s movement away from communism.

Changing of the Guard

Photograph by Abraham Nowitz

No traditional costumes here: Modern-day pageantry marks the changing of the guard at the gates of Prague Castle, a complex that includes royal residences and churches.

Charles Bridge

Photograph by Paul Panayiotou/SIME

Like apparitions from bygone days, Prague residents stroll across fog-shrouded Charles Bridge, the local landmark that has served the city’s inhabitants since the 14th century.